This week Texas released a new broadband map spotlighting areas in the most need. Also new in Texas is proposed legislation to create a new Broadband Funding plan that draws from existing sales tax revenues. Hello, SJR 27 (2023 | TX) & SB 377 (2023 | TX)
SemiConductor Supply. 42 sites, 16 states.
What is happening? The Semiconductor Industry Association says that there is $200 Billion in private sector investment for new and expansion projects at 42 sites across 16 states. From 1990 through 2020, the U.S.’s share of global microchip fabrication slid from 40% to 12%. Texas will account for $56 Billion of the $200 Billion in private investment.
Why is this important? Taiwan and South Korea lead in semi conductor fabrication capacity. Taiwan has 92% of leading-edge semiconductor production. The U.S. addressed this with the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act that has $52 billion for semiconductor research and development, manufacturing and workforce initiatives.
Route Fifty | The Places Seeing Growth in the Semiconductor Sector So Far
Crypto Enthusiasts Likes
What is happening? Texas ranks 4th most favorable state for crypto enthusiasts. NV, CA, and Fl are ahead of Texas. Recommendations from The Texas Work Group on Blockchain Matters include: incentives for companies that don’t make money off monetizing data, “embracing its tradition of individual liberty,” and by “making it explicit that the U.S. Constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure extend to activity on the internet.”
How does this fit with recent FTX bankruptcy headlines? “What FTX does is gives us a fantastic contrast to the way some Texas businesses are actually approaching Bitcoin, taking a much more fiscally conservative approach. We feel like the blowback from a regulatory perspective would be detrimental to Texas businesses that are getting it right.” According to Christopher Calicott, managing partner at Austin-based Trammell Venture Partners, a member of The Texas Work Group on Blockchain Matters.
Governing | Texas Still Wants to Become Nation’s Cryptocurrency Leader
Data Center Water Usage
What is happening? Ever wondered how much water is needed to cool data centers? A city in Oregon had prevented the water usage from becoming public, but now the data is free for the world to consume. To cool Google’s data centers in Oregon it takes 274.5 million gallons. World wide data centers require 4.3 billion gallons of water. This world wide number is similar to the water usage of 29 golds courses in the U.S. Southwest. Fun with facts.
AP | Oregon city drops fight to keep Google water use private
Banning Social Media for the Under 18 crowd
What is happening? Bonjour, HB 896 (2023 | TX), that will require social media platforms to verify user ages and prohibit users under the age of 18. “Social media is the pre-1964 cigarette. Once thought to be perfectly safe for users, social media access to minors has led to remarkable rises in self-harm, suicide, and mental health issues, Patterson said.”
Governing | Texas Bill Would Ban Social Media for Everyone Under 18
Cybersecurity Experts + TikTok Bans
What is happening? 18 Republican Governors have banned TikTok on state devices. Some states are also banning WeChat, QQWallet and AliPay from other Chinese companies. Anton Dahbura, executive director of Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute, a cybersecurity academic and research center says that “It’s not just the obvious security that someone could bring down the power grid. It’s infiltration of systems to obtain confidential information that is quite valuable to foreign actors.”
Why is this important? In the US companies track your data for marketing purposes. In China, companies are required to share tracked data with the Chinese Government.
Route Fifty | Governors’ TikTok Bans Make Sense, Cybersecurity Experts Say
Texas Bans TikTok on State Devices
What is happening? Add Texas to the list of Governors that have used executive powers to ban the use of TikTok on state devices. The governor’s message includes this statement: “The threat of the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate the United States continues to grow. While the federal government holds the ultimate responsibility for foreign policy issues, the State also has the responsibility and opportunity to protect itself…”
CBS DFW | Gov. Greg Abbott bans TikTok on state-issued devices
bitcoin bloodbath
What is happening? A headline that included the phrase “bitcoin bloodbath” caught my attention. Alliteration is cool. Bitcoin balances on crypto exchanges are down to 2.3 million from their 3.1 million peak. Self-custody wallet balances aren’t growing as more people are selling than storing bitcoin. The overall cryptocurrency market capitalization has lost $1.63 trillion in value.
Why is this important? Let’s just leave it with this study because I like data. “A study from the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), conducted between 2015 and 2022, estimated that 73% to 81% likely lost money on their investments in cryptocurrencies.”
Reuters | Cryptoverse: Forget crypto winter, this is a bitcoin ‘bloodbath’
Supply Chain Blockchain Pilot Results
What is happening? Maersk and IBM had a partnership for global trade digitization platform called TradeLens. It failed to reach commercial viability and is being shuttered. Turns out that supply chain data is often confidential and private and therefore hard to digitize, integrate and share.
Why is this important? Other partnerships exist and strides were made with regulators to create uniform forms for bills of lading to speed up global trade.
CIO Dive | Maersk, IBM to shut down blockchain joint venture TradeLens
TikTok ban: MD & SC
What is happening? Add Maryland and South Carolina to the states that are banning TikTok from state devices. Maryland Governor issued a cybersecurity emergency directive prohibiting the “Use of TikTok, China and Russia-Based Products and Platforms in State Government.”
Why is this important? This comes a week after FBI Director Christopher Wray reiterated that TikTok is a threat to national security.